Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Feb 16: Reliable sources have disclosed that separate Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) units will come into existence at the end of February in City Crime Branch (CCB) departments of Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi - Dharwad and Belagavi police commissionerate zones.

These units will support Internal Security Division (ISD) to prevent terrorist activities in the state. This decision is taken in view of the explosive information that terrorist organizations like ISIS and others have turned their eyes on South India including the state of Karnataka.

State police department has sent circulars to respective zonal police commissioners on February 7 asking them to make necessary arrangements to establish these new ATS units. Already ATS is working in the Bengaluru CCB department.

The ATS unit will be led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and the team will concentrate solely on the activities of terrorists. In addition, definite information will also be available to the intelligence department. It is learnt that the ATS units will be strengthened in the lines of Mumbai and Pune ATS units.

The officials of National Investigation Agency (NIA) have arrested Alam Zeb Afridi, accused in the Bengaluru Church Street bombing, suspected ISIS terrorists and JMB terrorist Kausar in the last three years in the state. NIA has also informed the state intelligence about some youth from the state joining terror outfits recently.